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East Islip middle school musicians present space‑themed spring concert, administrators and parents praise students
Summary
Middle school students in the East Islip Union Free School District performed a space‑themed spring concert featuring classical and popular selections, with administrators praising students, a parent organization running a raffle, and the program live‑streamed for families.
Middle school musicians from the East Islip Union Free School District performed a space‑themed spring concert for families and the community, school officials said, showcasing classical and popular selections and noting that more than half the band participated in a regional festival this year.
The program highlighted Gustav Holst’s “Mars” from The Planets and “Jupiter,” film themes by John Williams, an arrangement of Billy Joel’s “For the Longest Time,” and pop numbers including “I Want It That Way.” Dr. Rob Wagner, the district’s director of music, told the audience, “It takes a village to raise our children,” and asked families to remain for the full program and to “please stay present. Turn off your cell phones.”
The concert served as both a student showcase and a community event: Wagner thanked the Board of Education, Superintendent Paul Manzo and central administrators for their support, and noted that the district’s parent organization, EIMAPS, was selling 50/50 raffle tickets in the lobby to support the music and arts programs. Wagner also credited a technician named Frank for live‑streaming the performance so relatives who could not attend could watch.
Several staff members thanked families and praised students’ progress. One staff speaker said the group had improved substantially since January and singled out students who participated in NISMA this year, saying “they all did excellent.” The program also included student volunteers who moved chairs and risers and an interlude by the acapella group Out of Nowhere.
Concert organizers introduced the seventh‑grade band, orchestra and chorus in turn and encouraged applause for student musicians and volunteers. At the program’s close, a staff speaker described the chorus as “one of the best groups I have ever had the pleasure of teaching,” and thanked parents and teachers for their support.
The event was presented as a culmination of the school year’s work rather than as an administrative meeting item; no votes or formal district actions were part of the program.
